Tag: THE BOYZ

[Review] Nectar – THE BOYZ

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New week means new comebacks. And we start off this week with a big day of comebacks. One of these comebacks is THE BOYZ’s return with the third (and final, I believe) part of their second studio album PHANTASY. This portion of the album is more specifically titled [PHANTASY] Pt.3 Love Letter. Leading the third part is the title track Nectar. This comeback follows on from LIP GLOSS and WATCH IT, the lead single from Pt.1 and Pt.2 of PHANTASY.

In a previous THE BOYZ review, I made a comment that the group tends to switch between dark and bright comebacks. And I feel this album fuels this pattern, with Nectar bringing us back to the brighter sound that LIP GLOSS channeled following the darker and serious tone WATCH IT. While Nectar isn’t as vibrant and upbeat as per the former track, the track does opt for a softer and more pleasant tone compared to their more recent release. The instrumentation for Nectar is ‘mid-tempo pop track with sentimental guitar sounds’ (taken from SOOMPI) and some prominent synth work that turns Nectar into a blast when we reach the choruses. The group backs up the instrumentation, particularly that sentimental vibe, with easy on the ear and tender vocals that fit the realm of pop music. Even the rapping was toned down to be more complementary to the sound profile of Nectar. This also helps push the song’s warm and comforting messaging about ‘putting the past behind and running toward a radiant future’ (also taken from SOOMPI). The melodies were great. I also think the hooks turned out good, but I feel like the shoutier motif (relative to the rest of delivery in the song) muddled the potential for it to really feel clean and crisp, which could ultimately have taken Nectar to the next level.

What I really want to touch was the music video, which I felt embodies the song’s messaging mentioned above. But the approach the members take is a bit unconventional. The video begins with a cult-like vibe, with the group performing a ritual to take themselves back to the past (I think). I also think the time they chosen to return to was a time before some sort of tragedy struck the group, based on how there were a little memorial earlier on in the video. In their own way, they are moving away from past (i.e., when the tragedy struck) towards a brighter future (i.e., their life before the tragedy). But their approach goes against the convention that time is moving from past to future, and can only go in that one direction, as mentioned in the books we see early on in the video. With that in mind, I think the video implies that there is implications to their movements in time – such as Hyunjae donning clothing similar to the outfits the members were wearing when they were performing that ritual at the end of the video and why there were some scenes where some of the members were members are pensive or emotional during their high school days. I guess it implies that the past is still part of you no matter where you go. Anyhow, that is my personal take on the video and I would love to read about other theories you may have about the video above.

[Updated on 22/03/2024] Despite it being a softer song than usual for THE BOYZ, the choreography for this song still manages to strike a balance to showcase a little bit of intensity, but not enough to overpower or overtake the routine. This is in addition to its graceful feeling, which definitely complements the song. While there really isn’t a memorable move in the routine, II still quite enjoyed the choreography as a whole, per usual.

Song – 8.5/10
Music Video – 9/10
Performance – 8/10 [Updated on 22/03/2024]
Overall Rating – 8.6/10 [Updated on 22/03/2024]

[Album Review] [PHANTASY] Pt. 2 Sixth Sense (2nd Studio Album – Part 2) – THE BOYZ

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THE BOYZ announced back last year their second studio length album PHANTASY and that it would be split into three parts. I also think I read somewhere that the entire album was to be released by the end of 2023. But I think that ship has sailed given we only have two parts and it is already early 2024. Anyhow, the group kicked off PHANTASY with the first part, Christmas in August and LIP GLOSS, in August 2023. And in November 2023, the group followed up with the second part of PHANTASY, Sixth Sense, which is the focus of this review post. The single WATCH IT serves as the title track and forms part of the six-track second part of the album. For my thoughts on each of the song below (FYI – some of which do have music videos – linked blow. But due to time constraints, I have opted to review them here instead), continue reading the review below.

[PHANTASY] Pt. 2 Sixth Sense Album Cover

1. WATCH IT (Title Track) – Click here for the full review for WATCH IT.  (9/10)

2. Rat In The Trap (덫) – The first unit track on this part of the album is Rat In The Trap, which features Sangyeon, Jacob, Kevin, New and Hakyeon. I wrote this review before the music video for Rat In The Trap was released. Here, they describe love as a trap. I really like the funky vibe that is channeled throughout the track. Further to that, the electric bass gives the track that dark and edgy vibe (and a very cool crunchy effect), while the melodies and vocal work feels quite sleek. (8/10)

3. Honey – Honey also got the music video treatment earlier this year. But as it was an all-English song (which was a genuine surprise to me), it (presently) can only fall into the realm of my International Song Reviews segment. As that segment tends to lag behind, here are my thoughts on Honey. It is a smooth and sleek hip-hop track performed by members Sunwoo and Eric. The lyrics are quite sensual and mature, but I feel this helps makes the song feel even smoother. The two rappers’ vocals were actually well done, and their rapping is definitely engaging. I really like their use of the deeper and lower registers throughout, which really helped make Honey alluring to listeners. Eric and Sunwoo did a very successful job with Honey. (9/10)

4. Bad Luck – All the members come together again in Bad Luck, which felt like quintessential THE BOYZ for me. The synth work comes off as dramatic in Bad Luck and gives momentum to the song. The vocal work is amazing, with fast tempo delivery in the chorus being one of the cooler aspects of the track. But it is the rapping that bookends both ends of the second verse were the standout moments, with Sunwoo’s rhythmic sequence at the end of the second verse being the best of the best. I want to relive those few seconds again and again. (10/10)

5. CRYING & LAUGHTER – The hollow percussion to start off the song was definitely an interesting choice. But it actually ends up blending well with the rest of the instrumentation. There are also other interesting choices in this dance track, as more scratchy strings. Again, good rapping and vocals from the members throughout CRYING & LAUGHTER, all of which makes the song engaging to listen to again and again. The ‘La la la’ and melodies are quite catchy. A solid single, overall. (8/10)

6. Escape – Again, we see interesting instrumentation choices in Escape. There are a few odd balls (at least, that is how I hear them) in the background, such as the consistent and brief thumping percussion, the very dull piano-like right at the back of the instrumentation, a bubbling effect sound and probably a lot more that I cannot pinpoint. That being said, everything melds together to be quite aesthetic. I thought it was really cool. The airy vocals from the members actually complimented the music quite well. It had an alluring effect that worked very well on me. My only improvement to this song is that it could have used something more memorable in terms of hooks and melodies. (8.5/10)

Overall Album Rating – 8.8/10

[PHANTASY] Pt. 2 Sixth Sense Teaser Image

[Weekly KPOP Chart] 4th Week of November 2023

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Welcome back to the Weekly KPOP Charts, this time for the 4th Week of November 2023. Finally back the usual posting schedule with the Weekly KPOP Charts post (i.e., Sunday), which I am hoping with continue until Christmas this year. Per usual, Sundays means chores day for me and drafting some posts for the upcoming week. So let’s get going with the Weekly KPOP Charts for the 4th Week of November 2023.

ICYMI – 2023 KPOPREVIEWED Awards

If you have yet to vote in the 2023 KPOPREVIEWED Awards, click the link here to be taken to the voting page to support your favourite artists, songs and performances of 2023.

Recap of the 1st Week of November 2023

Here is a recap of what I posted:

Joining all those new releases above this week are the following songs:

  • MEGAVERSE – Stray Kids
  • Melting Point – ZEROBASEONE
  • ANTI HERO – ICU
  • A HA – Hyunseong (BF)
  • SAVIOR – PUZZLE
  • Changed Man – J.Y.Park
  • To You Who Don’t Know – Kim Dohee
  • It’s Okay – Ryeowook (Super Junior)
  • Roller Coaster – 24K+
  • Grand Prix – Kep1er
  • BEEP BEEP – Jessica
  • Playground – LUN8wave
  • ODD-VENTURE – MCND
  • Forbidden Midnight – iii
  • I – Park Bom ft. Dawn
  • Potential – FANTASY BOYS
  • BLOODY – Kim Boa (KEEMBO) ft. Microdot
  • ONLY ONE – Bang Yedam
  • ICN > YVR – BIG NAUGHTY
  • Command C+Me – Jun.K (2PM)

Throwback Song of the Week

This week’s Throwback song is truly a throwback song, released back in 2010. After School’s Because Of You is my choice, after it appeared on my timeline on X during the week. Cue me slipping into Because Of You nostalgia.

Non-Korean Song of the Week

This week’s Non-Korean song of the week for the 4th Week of 2023 is JENNIE’s (from BLACKPINK) You & Me. You & Me ranks in the second position this week, and will be reviewed in an upcoming International Song Review post.

The Charts

Congratulations to THE BOYZ and their comeback single WATCH IT for debuting at the top of the Weekly KPOP Charts for the 4th Week of November 2023. For more of the charts, keep on scrolling down below.

Pos.SongArtistChange
1WATCH ITTHE BOYZ(NEW)
2Chill KillRed Velvet(=)
3Sweet VenomENHYPEN(▲ 9)
4You & MeJENNIE (BLACKPINK)(▲ 32)
5LUCKY ROCKYROCKY(NEW)
6AmnesiaVIXX(NEW)
7HOODIE E BANBAJILee Hyori(▲ 83)
8OOTDDreamcatcher(NEW)
9Sure Thing82MAJOR(▲ 62)
10PUPPET SHOWXG(▲ 78)
11CRUSHZEROBASEONE(▼ 5)
12Good EnoughCHANYEOL (EXO)(▲ 78)
13Screen TimeEPIK HIGH ft. HOSHI (SEVENTEEN)(▲ 70)
14Fall In Love AgainP1Harmony(▲ 76)
15MANIACVIVIZ(▲ 36)
16LALALALAStray Kids(▼ 15)
17Hmm-CheatCRUSH(▲ 73)
18LovedB.I(▲ 69)
19NOBODYJeon Soyeon ((G)I-DLE), Winter (aespa), LIZ (IVE)(▲ 71)
20MACARONI CHEESEYOUNG POSSE(▲ 70)
21MEGAVERSEStray Kids(NEW)
22NEVERLANDNINE.i(▲ 43)
23Bailia ConmigoONEUS(▲ 14)
244 LettersB.I ft. James Reid(▲ 66)
25RockstarJay Chang(▲ 27)
26X.O.XMoon Jongup(▲ 64)
27Sugar-holicITZY(▲ 63)
28Do ItYoungjae (GOT7)(▼ 24)
29GuiltyTAEMIN (SHINee)(▼ 16)
30fBobby (iKON)(▲ 11)

Songs leaving the charts

The following songs have wrapped up their nine week run in the charts system, and will no longer be on the charts from next week:

[Review] WATCH IT – THE BOYZ

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THE BOYZ has been nominated for Best Male Group, Best Male Dance Performance (Group) for ROAR and Best Music Video (for ROAR) in the 2023 KPOPREVIEWED Awards. If you want to support THE BOYZ and your other favourite artists, songs and performance, click here to vote today.

THE BOYZ kicked off this week with the second part of their PHANTASY studio album, with this instalment titled Sixth Sense. It features the title track WATCH IT and follows on from the Christmas in August instalment, which was lead by the single LIP GLOSS. While the comeback does feature all members of THE BOYZ, member Ju Hakyeon will be sitting out of promotions due to a back injury.

Now, this is one cool and sleek song. When I first checked out WATCH IT on Monday upon its release, there were two parts of the song that really stood out to me – the melody in the vocal parts of the pre-choruses and Sunwoo’s “Hi hello, My name is what you want it to” line in the second verse. I was instantly reaching for the replay button to relive those two segments. Further listens has helped me identify the bridge to be another highlight of WATCH IT, especially with Jacob’s high note that just blows me away. All of this sets the bar up quite high, and the rest of WATCH IT follows through quite well. I really like the subtle funkiness in the instrumentation, but also the rough synths and bass that is present in the background. This all puts WATCH IT into the realm of dance music, but the producers did a really great job of making it alluring and mature-sounding. The low-groan deliver of the chorus is very interesting, but works with the subtle funkiness and low bass that is going on in the background. All of the rapping brings the sleekness that I mentioned earlier, forming a very prominent feature in WATCH IT that needs to be touched on somehow. I like how the vocal segments help spreads everything apart. And as mentioned above, the vocals serves us with some of the best parts of WATCH IT. All in all, I am very impressed with the likes of WATCH IT.

I feel like the music video is probably the weakest link of this comeback. And it comes down to a pretty small detail, if I am being honest (relying on what I got out of the video that is). What we saw in terms of visuals, choreography scenes and styling was pretty much top-notch and amazing. The members looked very fine throughout the video and the choreography shots all looked very polished. But it is the plot line that I think is in the music video somewhat that left me a bit confused. We went from a shady jewelry store front to a truck explosion, and I am not entirely sure what this is all about. The cat and something in Juyeon’s blood vessels also leaves me scratching my head. And I feel like the music video was lacking a fair bit in between to really tell that story. Or, I could be missing a prequel video and that might fill in all of the gaps, or I am overthinking what could just be what is supposed to be a “cool” set of scenes. Happy for you to point me in the right direction or to comment on any theories that I should know about.

The flow of this choreography, especially with moves across the stage (such as the slow glide during Sunwoo’s “Hi Hello” line in the second verse), brings that sleekness featured in the song to the choreography. And like all THE BOYZ performances, I am in awe with their showmanship and skills that they show off in the performance on stage. I would have liked to have seen a more defining move during the chorus, but this routine is already pretty fantastic as it is.

Song – 9/10
Music Video – 8/10
Performance – 9.5/10
Overall Rating – 8.8/10

[Album Review] [PHANTASY] Pt. 1 Christmas in August (2nd Studio Album – Part 1) – THE BOYZ

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THE BOYZ has been nominated for Best Male Group, Best Male Dance Performance (Group) for ROAR and Best Music Video (for ROAR) in the 2023 KPOPREVIEWED Awards. If you want to support THE BOYZ and your other favourite artists, songs and performance, click here to vote today.

In case you missed it, THE BOYZ announced that their 2nd studio album, which will be split into three parts throughout the second half of 2023. The second part of the album will actually be released this coming Tuesday. But before we get to hear PHANTASY Pt. 2: Sixth Sense and their new title track WATCH IT, here is my review of PHANTASY Pt. 1: Christmas in August, which was released in (you guessed it) August of this year. It features the title track LIP GLOSS and the unit track Passion Fruit (along with an additional 4 tracks).

PHANTASY Pt. 1: Christmas In July Album Cover

1. LIP GLOSS (Title Track) – Click here to read the full review for LIP GLOSS. (9/10)

2. Passion Fruit – Passion Fruit features a small subset of THE BOYZ – Younghoon, Hyunjae, Juyeon, Q, Sunwoo. I like how groovy this track ended up being, despite it also being very dance centric thanks to the heftiness of the synths. Passion Fruit is also very catchy, with its simple yet effectively repetitive hooks. The autotuned groan-like sample that features in the background is also quite catchy. The hip-hop motif that Passion Fruit turns to in the second verse was also pretty cool. (8.5/10)

3. Lighthouse – Lighthouse feels very quintessential THE BOYZ to me, which is appropriate for bringing the group back together. It has that similar vibe to many of their past side tracks, and also carries a familiarity to it. The percussive instrumental was pretty cool, but I felt like it was competing with the vocals and rapping a bit too much. It doesn’t help that the vocals and rapping are pretty standard and doesn’t offer anything to get them to stand out. The only part of Lighthouse that does offer something different is the higher pitched vocals in the chorus. But that is not enough to compensate for the rest of the typical the vocals and rapping brought Lighthouse). (7/10)

4. Fantasize (줄리의 법칙) – The strong presence of bass and grooviness in Fantasize serves as a solid background to the song. From there, Fantasize ends up developing into an upbeat and lively dance track. And there is a lot to like in the track, such as the low and breathy vocals throughout the song (with the vocal processing in the bridge adding some further well-appreciated texture), the cymbals in the pre-choruses (which adds so much punch to the song) and the catchy Oooh’s in the chorus. A definitely highlight on this mini-album. (10/10)

5. Fire Eyes – The electro pop in Fire Eyes carries a very retro vibe, which I do like. This is particularly felt the most during the choruses, via the bubbly synth work in the bridge and the additional synthesizer-like sequence towards the end of the song. The upbeat energy is also very continuous, and I like how straightforward and easy on the ears the hooks of Fire Eyes were. My biggest issue with the song is how blurry the members sound throughout the song, which is thanks to the overprocessing of vocals. (7/10)

6. Fairy Tale (나만 아는 이야기) – The final song on the mini-album is titled Fairy Tale. Despite expectations for a dreamier track due to the song’s title and placement on this mini-album, Fairy Tale ends up being another dance track, falling towards the pop genre more than anything else. Fairy Tale does feel much lighter, compared to the earlier tracks. This goes extremely well with the vocals, which do feel a tad dreamy and light, as well. The rapping adds texture and intensity to the song without disrupting the lightness/dreamy motif, but I felt the rapping could have been sharper. But overall, it is a neat song to end the album on. (8/10)

Overall Album Rating – 8.3/10

PHANTASY Pt. 1: Christmas In July Teaser Image

[International Song Reviews] KANG DANIEL, Golden Child, AB6IX & THE BOYZ

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It’s time for another International Song Review post. Last time, I covered Kep1er, DRIPPIN, New Hope Club & P1Harmony. & WayV. Today, I will be reviewing KANG DANIEL’s Wasteland, Golden Child’s CRAYON, AB6IX’s FLY AWAY and THE BOYZ’s Delicious.

Wasteland – KANG DANIEL

Weeks prior to his SOS comeback earlier this year, KANG DANIEL teased his return with the single WASTELAND, an all-English side track from the same mini-album that SOS was part of (Realiez). To me, WASTELAND adopts a familiar style that I personally associate with KANG DANIEL. His music is quiet and never-in-your-face, yet very impactful and rhythmic at the same time. And that is what we get in WASTELAND. The backing takes on a slightly grungy form of alternative rock and has such a memorable haunting vibe that. By itself, the backing of WASTELAND already captivates me already. Throw in KANG DANIEL’s vocals, and you pretty much have a solid song. His vocals are quite interesting, as they are quite soft in sound, but firm in terms of delivery. His ad-libs, whilst do sound distant, does give the song some hype energy. I am also with everyone when we chat about the lyrics of WASTELAND, which KANG DANIEL himself says is about “betrayal of a firm faith and the moment of realizing it“.

To complement this dark messaging and sound, the music sequence (which serves as the ‘music video’ component of the comeback takes on a dark vibe as well. The short version is an extension of the scene in SOS where KANG DANIEL is captured by ‘death’, while the long version is an extension of the scene in which (I believe) is in hell. Both scenes work extremely well with the song and concentrating the darkness that KANG DANIEL exudes in the lyrics of WASTELAND.

Overall Rating – 8.6/10

CRAYON – Golden Child

It has been a while since we have heard from GOLDEN CHILD. Their last released covered on my blog was their AURA mini-album from last year. In April of this year (and literally their only release so far this year) is their 3rd Japanese single CRAYON. It is a powerful dance track with very intense and crunchy synths serving as the background. I quite enjoyed the emergence of guitar riffs in the pre-chorus, which adds a refreshing element to the song and allows CRAYON to feel not as reliant on synths as previous Japanese tracks of there have been. I did think the the vocals and rapping were a let down. While CRAYON does give us some melodic material to enjoy, but I felt that it didn’t feel as bold or loaded as it could have been. Likewise, the rapping was a fair element in the song, but it largely lacked anything memorable. For me, I would have liked to hear the vocals soar a bit, and the rapping deliver some more intensity. This in turn would have made CRAYON come off as a stronger piece.

As for the music video, it was a stylish 3 and half minutes, with a lot of black and white in the sets and outfits. The most colour we got in the video was in the more casual outfits that were neutral camo-like colours. I did want more out of the video, but it works. As for the performance, it is a powerful piece that works well with the song.

Overall Rating – 7.3/10

FLY AWAY – AB6IX

AB6IX made an ‘under the radar’ release in Japan back in May of this year with FLY AWAY, their first Japanese single since their debut in Japan in 2021. I describe FLY AWAY as an ‘under the radar’ release because I don’t remember it being promoted on social media and I only knew of the song through the list of KPOP releases on Reddit. Anyhow, FLY AWAY is a pleasant pop release from the four-member male group. It has a nice upbeat soothing synth-line as its instrumental. The vocals and rapping pretty much follows the same direction, with an equally soothing and enjoyable brightness to their vocals and WOOJIN’s rapping stays pretty much in a vocal manner for most of the song. He does manage to go into more of a rapping motif during the bridge that worked well with the rest of the song, but it was short. Unfortunately, while FLY AWAY is all very nice, it doesn’t have much of a longevity aspect to it. I pretty much forgot about the song after I took it out of my Weekly KPOP Chart system, and even after listening to the song for the purposes of this review, I am not inclined to return to it once it wraps up.

As for the music video, it too lacks that memorable aspect and is easily forgotten. It looks like 3 members (DONGHYUN, WOOJIN and WOONG) are hiding from DAEHWI, who is using drones to look for the members. But everything about this release is pleasant, so think hide-and-seek type of finding (and ignore the lasers and worried looks at the end of the video). Interestingly, there is no choreography to this release. Instead, the members just stand around and sing towards the camera for their group scenes.

Overall Rating – 7.1/10

Delicious – THE BOYZ

Also released in May of this year is THE BOYZ’s Delicious. Compared to their other tracks, Delicious is rather flat and also lacks that longevity element that I spoke about above. However, Delicious does have a bit more to it, which helps in the appealing department. The vocals exude a laid back vibe here that sounds comforting and inviting. The melodies follow a similar frame and has a nice ring to it. The instrumental was uneventful and rather generic for the most part, but I did like the splashes of synths and guitar in the verses. ERIC’s rapping in the second verse was probably the best aspect of Delicious.

Concept-wise, this feels very typical for a Korean act going into Japan. Instead of their more intense image that the group adopted in past Japanese singles or in their previous Korean single (ROAR) prior to the release of Delicious, the group adopt a more casual, brighter and almost cutesy demeanour for this release, which I feel does feel like the expectation in the Japanese pop industry. Obviously, the bigger driver from the brighter concept is the song choice, but it is also something we have seen often when Korean songs/videos are remade for the Japanese market. Choreography-wise, my thoughts above is pretty much aligned. It works well with the song, but it is many steps away from their other performance pieces.

Overall Rating – 7/10

[Weekly KPOP Chart] 3rd Week of August 2023

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Welcome back to the Weekly KPOP Charts for the 3rd Week of August 2023. I hope you all are having a great weekend, wherever you are. It has been another busy week for me, but I am trying my best to work through the backlog of songs and albums. So let’s hope for more productive weeks ahead on this blog. I sure will. But until then, there is an album review coming up on the blog today, and here is the Weekly KPOP Chart post for the 3rd Week of August 2023.

Recap of the past week

This past week, I posted:

Joining all those new releases this week are the following songs:

  • Drive5 – Hwiyoung (SF9)
  • My Sunshine – CHEN (EXO)
  • OUTLAW – BZ-BOYS
  • blessing in disguise – Huh Yunjin (LE SSERAFIM)
  • Told You – DKB
  • All Yours – DKB
  • BE – Jooyoung
  • Sara Sara – SEVENTEEN
  • Pop Punk – BIGONE ft. Dive & Do Hanse (VICTON)
  • Billionaire – Queendom Puzzle
  • Last Piece – Queendom Puzzle
  • Truth or Dare – Roa (Rocking Doll)
  • Light Of My Life – CHEN (EXO)
  • ICE CREAM – TFN
  • ONE LOOK – LEO
  • INEEDYOURLOVE – LOCO
  • Girls’ Capitalism – LOVElution (tripleS)
  • Haze – LUCY
  • Rowdy – SORN ft. Seungyeon
  • Better Things – aespa
  • LAFFY TAFFY – PRIMROSE
  • ULALA (Spanish Version) – LAPILLUS

Throwback Song of the Week

This week, I spent a fair bit of time on INFINITE’s live concert album for their Infinite Effect world tour that occurred back in 2015. Performed at that concert was Destiny – one of the group’s best title tracks ever!

Non-Korean Song of the Week

Each week, I feature the highest ranking non-Korean song by a Korean artist in this part of the Weekly KPOP Charts. For the 3rd Week of August 2023, that song is Eric Nam’s House on a Hill.

The Charts

LIP GLOSS and THE BOYZ are the top song and artist for the second week in a row as part of this week’s Weekly KPOP Charts. For more of the charts, keep on scrolling down below.

Pos.SongArtistChange
1LIP GLOSSTHE BOYZ(=)
2TAXIJo Yuri(▲ 33)
3BubbleSTAYC(NEW)
4CAKEITZY(▲ 24)
5Killin’ Me GoodJIHYO (TWICE)(NEW)
6SLAYEVERGLOW(NEW)
7Hate RodrigoCHOI YENA ft. YUQI ((G)I-DLE)(▲ 63)
8None Of My BusinessITZY(▲ 68)
9The FlashKwon Eun Bi(▲ 12)
10ONE MORE TIMEBBGIRLS(▲ 66)
11ISTJNCT DREAM(▼ 1)
12DO or DIExikers(▲ 19)
13MOVET5 (TREASURE)(▼ 6)
14Summer ComesOH MY GIRL(▲ 51)
15HEARTBEATTAN(▲ 61)
16Super ShyNewJeans(▲ 31)
17Cream SodaEXO(▼ 6)
18Get LitStray Kids(▲ 58)
19BLUE MOONJAY (iKON)(▲ 57)
20In BloomZEROBASEONE(▼ 17)
21ShhhKISS OF LIFE(▼ 4)
22Highern.Ssign(▼ 8)
23BONA BONATREASURE(▼ 17)
24All The Way UpThunder(▲ 52)
25YOUR TIMEPEAK TIME TOP 6(▲ 18)
26House On A HillEric Nam(▲ 36)
27Roller CoasterNMIXX(▲ 49)
28Do It Like ThatTXT & Jonas Brothers(▲ 20)
29dangdangMAMAMOO+(▼ 14)
30Fast ForwardJeon Somi(▼ 28)

Songs leaving the charts

The following songs have wrapped up their nine week run in the charts system, and will no longer be on the charts from next week:

[Weekly KPOP Chart] 2nd Week of August 2023

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Welcome back to the Weekly KPOP Chart for the 2nd Week of August 2023. It is going to be another short introduction, but there is an album review is on its way today. But as usual, here is the Weekly KPOP Chart.

Recap of the past week

This past week, I managed to post:

Joining all those new releases this week as new releases are the following songs:

  • Unforgettable Memories – Kim Dohee
  • Vuja De – Yunho (TVXQ)
  • On The Road – CHEN (EXO)
  • Horizon – JAEHYUN (NCT)
  • TAXI – Jo Yuri
  • Wormhole : New Track – n.Ssign
  • Beautiful Monster – HEEO
  • Fly Moon Night – W
  • DUBI DUBI – ARTBEAT v
  • Mirage of Flower – CHEN (EXO)
  • Don’t Leave Yet – Eric Nam
  • SPEED UP – Elkie
  • Love Me Again – V (BTS)
  • Daily Rain – V (BTS)
  • Wanderer – NELL
  • HEARTBEAT – TAN

Throwback Song of the Week

I actually didn’t get around to listening any old songs. Usually, I have them in my ear while working. But it has been so busy this week that I didn’t have time to. So for this week’s throwback song is from a couple of weeks back – MAMAMOO’s gogobebe.

Non-Korean Song of the Week

Each week, I feature the highest ranking non-Korean song by a Korean artist in this part of the Weekly KPOP Charts. For the 2nd Week of August 2023, that song is JUN’s PSYCHO.

The Charts

LIP GLOSS and THE BOYZ are the top song and artist (respectively) of this week KPOPREVIEWED’s Weekly KPOP Charts. For more of the charts, keep on scrolling down below.

Pos.SongArtistChange
1LIP GLOSSTHE BOYZ(NEW)
2Fast ForwardJeon Somi(NEW)
3In BloomZEROBASEONE(▲ 7)
4Love Me A LittleSHONWU & HYUNGWON (MONSTA X)(▲ 57)
5New EmotionINFINITE(▼ 2)
6BONA BONATREASURE(▼ 2)
7MOVET5 (TREASURE)(▲ 6)
8BOUNCY (K-HOT CHILLI PEPPERS)ATEEZ(▲ 3)
9PSYCHOJUN (SEVENTEEN)(▲ 10)
10ISTJNCT DREAM(▼ 4)
11Cream SodaEXO(▲ 13)
12DesignerVAV(▲ 39)
13Love Me AgainV (BTS)(NEW)
14Highern.Ssign(▲ 35)
15dangdangMAMAMOO+(▼ 8)
16Koongxikers(▲ 32)
17ShhhKISS OF LIFE(▲ 3)
18BLOSSOMENHYPEN(▲ 43)
19Misfits’ SundayJooyoung(▲ 42)
20VoyagerLUN8(▲ 9)
21The FlashKwon Eun Bi(▼ 19)
22MADABLUE(▲ 39)
23WE GOThe Wind(▲ 24)
24HARDSHINee(▼ 10)
25Firework&TEAM(▲ 36)
26Break OutCHEN (EXO)(▲ 35)
27Love SongYong Junhyung(▲ 34)
28CAKEITZY(▼ 23)
29YoutifulStray Kids(▲ 32)
30Turn It OffNINE.i(▲ 31)

Songs leaving the charts

The following songs have wrapped up their nine week run in the charts system, and will no longer be on the charts from next week:

  • Lime & Lemon – TVXQ!
  • Remember – JOO WON TAK
  • Like a Movie – 2Z
  • Let Me In – EXO
  • R.U.N – Suzy
  • Designer – VAV
  • Ready To Move – REN
  • WALEEN – Villain
  • Firework – &TEAM
  • Contrail – Baek Yebin
  • I Need Love – DKB
  • Epilogue – Jung Seung Hwan
  • My Soles Worn Out – Jooyoung
  • Wild Heart – LUN8
  • Voyager – LUN8
  • Marshmallow – MISAMO (TWICE)
  • Walk & Shine – QI.X
  • BOUNCY (K-HOT CHILLI PEPPERS) – ATEEZ
  • DLC – Stray Kids
  • FNF – Stray Kids
  • Can’t Leave – Park Je Up

[Review] LIP GLOSS – THE BOYZ

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Also making their comeback yesterday was THE BOYZ. While the leadup to the comeback was a touch rocky, the group has pulled off another Summer comeback with the single LIP GLOSS and the first part (of three) that will constitute the group’s second studio album, PHANTASY. This part is titled PHANTASY Pt. 1 Christmas in August. It was announced by their company that the male group will be making two further comebacks this year to complete the release of the second studio album. This one serves as their second Korean comeback of 2023, following the release of ROAR in February of this year.

LIP GLOSS is a very catchy and summery title track from the group that doesn’t rely too heavily on electronic synths like their last two Summer comebacks (i.e. THRILL RIDE and WHISPER). I really like how light yet upbeat the track is (thanks to the lower synth and EDM reliance), which feels refreshing. I will admit that I did find the hook, melodies and vocal work to be weak early on in the track. But as LIP GLOSS progresses, all three elements grow immensely on me, and that impression was reduced immensely by the time I reached for a second listen. The melodies and hooks become quite playful and works extremely well in maintain that aforementioned lightness and summery vibe. Maybe punchier vocals could still help LIP GLOSS in the long run. But as a vector for the lightness and freshness, the vocals that LIP GLOSS serves is just fine. I did like the interweaving of the entire group vs. a singular member’s vocals in the second half of the chorus, which adds to the song’s playful exterior. We do get some some abrasive house synths in the bridge’s breakdown, which facilitates a stronger presence for the rappers. The lightness in the verses and choruses does hold them back, so I appreciate that they have an opportunity to show something aligned with their delivery. I did wish for a stronger return to the final chorus, but what we got still managed to work. Overall, LIP GLOSS is a strong summer return for the group, and I can’t to hear more from the first part of the album as I have heard great things about it.

The music video serves some eye candy for fans in its beach and island theme getaway, with some of the members taking off their shirts for the video. On this beach and island, the members come across a stunning woman whom they are very attracted to. They do get a bit flirty with her (and vice versa), but not in a cringy way (allowing the video to be watchable). However, it is revealed at the end that she did lead them on. But don’t worry, as they group attracts another group of ladies who are also partying at the island. While that is the main part of the video, the group does return to perform LIP GLOSS from the second verse to the end in an after credits sort of manner. I quite liked this idea and it works extremely well with the light and simplicity of the summer concept. It also contributes to the fun nature of the song.

The playful vibes come off in the robust and energetic routine that is paired with LIP GLOSS. I really like the brightness that the members give off in the routine, which helps makes the choreography enjoyable to watch. I also liked how hard hitting the performance gets during that bridge breakdown, only to then revert back to those playful vibes in a matter of seconds.

Song – 9/10
Music Video – 8.5/10
Performance – 8.5/10
Overall Rating – 8.8/10

[Album Review] BE AWAKE (8th Mini Album) – THE BOYZ

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The next album to be reviewed on the blog is THE BOYZ’s BE AWAKE, the group’s 8th mini-album, which was released back in February of this year. The mini-album features the title track ROAR and five additional side tracks. This comeback is the first comeback from the group since BE AWARE / WHISPER in 2022 and also marks the return of Eric, who had taken a hiatus due to health reasons in early 2022.

If there was one aspect that was showcased in most (if not all) songs on BE AWAKE, it was THE BOYZ’s vocals and rapping. I particularly enjoyed their deep and raspy vocal tones featured in the first half of the mini-album, and how well fitted (and sometimes unexpectedly good) the rap sequences were on this mini-album. This consistent showcase of the members really helped make BE AWAKE a captivating mini-album and is a definite improvement from BE AWARE (which got a fair reaction from me). Check out the mini-album below to see if you agree with me (and my overall rating of the mini-album)!

BE AWAKE Album Cover

1. Awake – Kevin’s narration at the start, the group’s vocals and rapping were bone-chilling and so riveting to listen to. The R&B and EDM instrumentation for Awake came together to create a paced and sensual atmosphere, with the members really showing the latter through their deep and raspy tones. The song also features elements from the title track, which makes it an ideal track to kick off the mini-album and lead into the title track that follows. (9/10)

2. ROAR (Title Track) – Click here to read the full review for ROAR. (7.5/10)

3. Blah Blah – Blah Blah changes up the mini-album, diverting to a brighter territory (compared to the opening and title track). The producers of Blah Blah do maintain the deep tones from the earlier in the songs, allowing the track to still fit into the mini-album. But they offset this with some subtle groove in its melodies and hooks. However, I did think there was room for Blah Blah to do a bit more on these fronts, just to make the track more appealing. That being said, though, Blah Blah’s central piece was smooth and velvety to listen to. (8/10)

4. Savior – The 4-minute track on this album has a lot of great moments/elements. Some of my favourite include the hard-hitting and dynamic rap that changes up Savior out of nowhere; the groovy EDM that without a doubt enables THE BOYZ to show off some create choreography; and the sensual energy from the R&B motif at the start of the song, showcasing the members’ vocals. Savior pulled me back a few times when the mini-album was released, and it continues to do so months after its release. Definitely a sign of a great song. (10/10)

5. Horizon (숨) – Horizon is the BE AWAKE’s answer to a ballad piece. The instrumentation is made up of a range of balladry regulars, such as acoustic guitar, piano and orchestral strings. I liked that the track builds as it progresses, ending with some dramatic drumming. This helps makes the ballad more riveting, yet also maintaining a peaceful exterior. In addition to that, the vocals and rapping in the track are so captivating to listen to. A strong ballad, overall. (8/10)

6. Diamond Life – Ending the mini-album is Diamond Life, which has a lot more crunch thanks to its electronic synths. I vividly remember when I first checked out the album months ago, this track caught me off guard (more so scared me) as it a dynamic and bolder track following on from a calm and peaceful ballad. There are catchy bits in the song, and the vocals and rapping were solid works from the group. I would have liked Diamond Life to have a bit more of a zing to it, just to close out the mini-album on a lesser consistent note (as the song does feel a bit repetitive after listening to it a couple of times. (8/10)

Overall Album Rating – 8.4/10

ERIC’s teaser image for BE AWAKE
YOUNGHOON’s teaser image for BE AWAKE
SUNWOO’s teaser image for BE AWAKE
SANGYEON’s teaser image for BE AWAKE
Q’s teaser image for BE AWAKE
NEW’s teaser image for BE AWAKE
KEVIN’s teaser image for BE AWAKE
JUYEON’s teaser image for BE AWAKE
JU HAKYEON’s teaser image for BE AWAKE
JACOB’s teaser image for BE AWAKE
HYUNJAE’s teaser image for BE AWAKE

[Review] ROAR – THE BOYZ

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THE BOYZ kick off this week with their latest comeback, ROAR, and their 8th mini-album, BE AWAKE. This is the group’s first release since All About You in December 2022 and WHISPER, the group’s last official comeback prior to today’s new release. It also marks the return of Eric who sat out of promotions with the group since March of last year, including THE BOYZ’s last comeback, due to health issues.

Since the group’s hit The Stealer in 2020, THE BOYZ has been flicking between dark and bright concepts/sounds. THRILL RIDE and WHISPER takes the helm of the brighter concepts/sounds, while The Stealer, MAVERICK and now ROAR fall into the former category. From what I got out of the song, ROAR is an attempt at a sound that is geared towards a more sensual effect without going into the usual sensual motifs that male KPOP groups tend to go with. The song does fall into the R&B category, mixing it with a dance pop sound that allows THE BOYZ to show off their performance and choreography chops (more on that aspect of this comeback later). ROAR opens with a whistle, that is repeated throughout the song and thus becoming a memorable aspect of the song. The chorus, which the whistle mentioned just now appears most readily in, ends up following a similar refrain, just not to the same extent. I did like the vibrancy it brought to the song and there was a ring to it, which I quite enjoyed. But I honestly wished there was more of a zing to the chorus, just to give the song that extra edge and more of a catchy flair. Since I am already talking about edge, I have to mention ROAR“s powerful rapping. It definitely gave ROAR some much needed oomph and definitely highlights the rappers’ potential. Similarly, the dance break that we get packs a punch and adds a further cool/dynamic energy to the song with the more abrasive and intense synths. On the other hand, I felt the vocal work was a lot less impactful. I don’t get much out of it, but I appreciate the intensity and power that the vocalists infuse into the song, especially during the more defined moments of the song. Overall, ROAR is a fair comeback and feels quite on brand for THE BOYZ.

My first impression of this music video was a super big WOW. I am amazed at the quality of the cinematography and post-production for this 3:40 minute music video. The start where they are on clouds was a jaw-dropping beginning and everything that came after lived up to the standard set in the opening moments. The transitions felt flawless, pulling the video together to make a super cohesive piece, which helps brings together the different locations (more on this in a literal second). I also really liked the home video-like shots of the members, which helps add to the edgy vibes of the video. I also liked how it wasn’t just a simple one or two set video. Instead, there was a variety of locations used, which kept everything fresh and nothing ever looked like a copy of a previous scene. The members look super fine throughout the video, especially Juyeon when it came to the dance break. The video depicts them in a way that shows off a more animalistic profile, which goes hand-in-hand with the lyrics and title of the song.

Again, if this performance shows anything, it is definitely that THE BOYZ is a group to not underestimate on the performance/choreography front. This was a bold routine that has a cool and intense factor that feels quite unique to THE BOYZ themselves. The dance break we get prior to the final chorus was fierce, while the slow walk and open leg pivot we get during the chorus has the potential to become iconic.

Song – 7.5/10
Music Video – 10/10
Performance – 10/10
Overall Rating – 8.8/10

[International Song Reviews] THE BOYZ, TWICE & BoA

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Welcome back to the another round of reviews for songs by our favourite KPOP artist that aren’t in Korean. Firstly, I want to apologies for completely dropping the ball on these reviews last year, which resulted in a backlog that just unmotivated me to write the posts. I have been doing some thinking about how I can revive the segment on my blog, and have landed on the idea of shorter posts. This hopefully should mean less time to write up one of these, which in turn would make them less draining. They used to be four of five in one post, which was manageable at first. But they just took up sooo much time. So, here we go. To catch up on the reviews, I will be focusing on three releases. For this post, the focus will be on THE BOYZ, TWICE and BoA.

SHE’S THE BOSS – THE BOYZ

Language: Japan
Released: 27 May 2022
Album: She’s The Boss (2nd Japanese Mini Album)

If I recall correctly, THE BOYZ’s last Japanese single (Breaking Dawn) only had a small portion that was in Japanese with the balance in Korean. That followed on from the group’s initial Japanese debut single (Tattoo), which only had a line of Japanese. SHE’S THE BOSS is a definite improvement in the language department based on what I can hear, as majority of the song is in Japanese (with the song’s main hook being in English). Anyhow, for me, the rappers really stood out in this track. Their segments really aligned with the song’s main chanty hook. The repetition really sold it to me. Similar instrumentation (i.e. crunchy synths and metallic skittish elements) and the rough tone was present in both, and I liked this commonality between the two sides. I also feel the intensity and force behind their parts. The vocals were nice and brought smoothness, but they don’t offer as much to SHE’S THE BOSS as the rappers did. Actually, I felt the vocals really stepped away from the crunchiness and roughness of the more memorable aspects of the song. I appreciate the contrast, but I wished more happened with the vocals than just smoothness. Overall, SHE’S THE BOSS was a decent track and a good listen, though SHE’S THE BOSS is another case of “more could have been done”.

The music video consists of smoldering closes up of the members and choreography shots. The sets were super cool and I quite like the brown marbling background used for one of the choreography dance sets. A bit dry, otherwise. As for the choreography, I really liked the intensity they put behind the routine for the main hook of the song. I also enjoyed the smoothness they brought to the routine during the song’s smoother moments. The contrast between the two was an interesting mix. But visually, it works.

Overall Rating – 7.6/10

Celebrate – TWICE

Language: Japan
Released: 15 July 2022
Album: Celebrate (4th Japanese Studio Album)

Days following the news of TWICE renewing their contracts with JYP Entertainment to continue group activities, the group returned with a very fitting track in Japan titled Celebrate. When I read through the lyrics for the song, I do feel like it is a song for fans, celebrating the time TWICE and ONCE have spent together over the last seven or so years. I mean, Chaeyoung’s opening line “Tonight, we’ll celebrate our love. After all this time, We’re still together” kind of says it all. Celebrate is a straightforward pop track that feels very cheerful, bubbly and bright. All of which we have heard from TWICE previously. However, Celebrate is more geared towards a pleasant effect, which I find to be fitting for the message. It is quite obvious that this song isn’t the most TWICE song we have ever heard. Nor is it the group’s most catchiest single yet. But the pleasantness, combined with the other aforementioned effects, helps create an enjoyable listen. That being said, Celebrate does have some catchy hooks and melodies, and I feel like the members executed the song extremely well. Overall, another enjoyable listen from TWICE.

The music video for Celebrate was quite colourful, despite black and pink being the dominant colours in the video (i.e. see what the members are wearing). There isn’t too much to the video, apart from smiles and the members having a great time with each other. It is pretty much lighthearted, which matches up with the song’s message quite well. The choreography is quite good. Nothing catchy or mind-blowing here, but it was satsifying to watch and looks fun!

Overall Rating – 8.3/10

The Greatest – BoA

Language: Japan
Released: 23 May 2022
Album: The Greatest (20th Anniversary Japanese Compilation Album)

To celebrate her 20th anniversary since her Japanese solo debut, BoA, the Queen of KPOP, released the single The Greatest as part of a compilation album that was released to celebrate the milestone. However, as far as I am aware, the release was pretty much swept under the rug as soon as it was released, which was rather disappointing. I will be honest, I didn’t pay attention to The Greatest that much at the time of the release either, and the song only grew on me in the months after. Luckily, it did so in time to earn a nomination from me for the Best International Song by a Korean Artist (Japanese) in the 2022 KPOPREVIEWED Awards. There is a lot to enjoy in The Greatest. My pick would have to be the monotonous post-chorus hook, where “Greatest” was spelt aloud. There is something so charming with this hook. I definitely would have liked more to and of it, though. She does something similar in the bridge, just prior to jumping back into the chorus to complete the song. BoA puts her vocals on display during the choruses, which was another great segment in the pop song. The instrumental falls into the electropop genre and the crunchy synths really gives the song character and something for her to work with. My critical comments relate to the verses, which felt ordinary and lacked flair. Despite that, I think The Greatest is underrated and underappreciated.

The music video is pretty much has that modern SM Entertainment flair that the company has been pushing greatly (and seemingly dumped in 2022) with the whole futuristic and virtual KWANGYA universe. However, from what I can tell, this video doesn’t have a connection to the wider universe. Instead, the universe we see in this video belongs to BoA and it is evident that she is quite up there in the society (with her name plastered on top of the city’s tallest tower and The Greatest or GRE plastered throughout). I did like the purple and pink dominant colours of the video. Whatever BoA wore in this video made her pop out right at you, showing off her visuals and charms. As for the choreography, it was a pretty good one. Again, not her most mind-blowing one yet. But the electropop side and those synths mentioned earlier gave her an opportunity to showcase her performance skills and create a piece that reiterates her status in the field.

Overall Rating – 8/10

[Review] All About You – THE BOYZ

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THE BOYZ is nominated for Best Group Performance (Male) in the 2022 KPOPREVIEWED Awards with MAVERICK. Support THE BOYZ and your other favourite artists, songs and performances of the year by clicking here to vote today!

Last week, THE BOYZ released a new single, All About You, to celebrate their 5th anniversary since their debut in 2017. Since their debut, THE BOYZ have definitely risen in the ranks of KPOP groups and are now considered of the biggest male groups in KPOP. This is also THE BOYZ first release since WHISPER and BE AWARE from August this year.

With that piece of context, it is clear as day that All About You is a fan song, with some of the members penning the lyrics to the song for their fans. Usually, I do not say much about these types of songs, as the intention of these tracks tend to be pure and warm-hearted. And plus, I don’t want to look like a prick by saying mean stuff about such a song. All About You is a mid-tempo acoustic pop track that comes as quite pleasant and warming. The verses are melodic and soothing, with the members’ vocals opting for a lower tone. This plays nicely into the pre-choruses, which also opts for a low vocal tone. But this segment has been slightly autotuned to make it come off as monotonous and there is also a panning effect, which gives the song a bit of texture and doesn’t it make it overly smooth. We then proceed into the choruses, which features more defined vocals (relative to the opening verse) and a nice swayable melody that I enjoyed. Rapping makes a presence in the second verse. Usually, raps don’t fit into these songs as well as they do with other styles, but they stood out for me here in All About You. I enjoyed the way it has been moulded into the song and the pace was quite calming. The rest of the song falls into line with what we have heard so far, keeping a nice consistency overall.

The music video fits in nicely with the song. THE BOYZ are just acting casual in the video, as if they are college students and having fun with one another throughout the video. They already appear to be a tight-knitted group in their more ‘behind the scenes’ type of material and other works, but to see it here was quite cute and enjoyable. It is also nice to see Eric as part of the lineup again. For those who may not know, Eric has been sitting out of promotions for a while now due to his health. But he is officially back from the looks of it and it is a nice way to bring him back. Elsewhere, I enjoyed the golden hue of the video, which makes everything appear warm and inviting, which I am sure is the intention of the video, overall.

Song – 8/10
Music Video – 8/10
Overall Rating – 8/10

[Album Review] BE AWARE (7th Mini Album) – THE BOYZ

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THE BOYZ’s MAVERICK is nominated for Best Group Performance (Male) of 2022 in the 2022 KPOPREVIEWED Awards. Support MAVERICK and your other favourite artists, songs and performances in the 2022 KPOPREVIEWED Awards by clicking the link here to vote.

It has definitely been a while since the last album review being posted towards the end of October. A month on, I am finally back with the next album review. This one is for THE BOYZ’s BE AWARE – an album review I had started to draft before I had go on my urgent break and the prioritisation of other segments upon my return. Don’t worry, I dumped that draft and have rewritten everything to be a more accurate representation of my thoughts at this current point in time, as thoughts and feelings do change over a period of time. This album was released way back in mid-August and features the title track WHISTLE, alongside Timeless (a pre-release track) and four other side tracks.

Overall, a decent mini-album. Not their strongest, but there were some good moments on there. Do you agree with my overall summary of BE AWARE, or my thoughts on the individual songs? Let me know in the comments below.

BE AWARE Album Cover

1. WHISPER (Title Track) – Click here to read the full review for WHIPSER. (7/10)

2. Bump & Love – Bump & Love is a slower pop track. It has some catchy and memorable moments. The main ones that I really enjoyed were the ‘Woo~’ in the pre-choruses and the ‘La la la’ in the post-choruses. And I quite liked how the bridge double downed and really cut through the overly consistent feel that Bump & Love was tethering with. Since I already mentioned it, the likeness of the verses and choruses for Bump & Love was its biggest flaw. The lack of difference between the two sections and the returning tempo just made the song too consistent for the most part. I did wish the song picked it up a bit, especially for the choruses. This would have really given Bump & Love a bit more energy and colour, which could have potentially made the song even better. (7.5/10)

3. C.O.D.E – Probably the most standard sounding on the album is C.O.D.E. It has a pretty typical set-up of EDM instrumental, and simple and easy-going pop melodies. There isn’t anything wrong with this set-up as C.O.D.E was still enjoyable and palatable. I do think if C.O.D.E tapped more into tropical sound and had stronger set of vocals, this would have been a knock out song. My favourite bit of C.O.D.E is Sunwoo’s rap-spoken “G.E.N.I.U.S” bridge. It was a very memorable aspect of the song that I continue replay the song for. (8/10)

4. Levitating (무중력) – Levitating opts for a darker and more mature R&B profile, which I personally enjoyed. It was a textural song, but it managed to resist the abrasive textures we have heard in KPOP in the past. Instead, the song features a pounding and hefty beat to its instrumental and is accented with some metallic clanging. The latter was pretty typical, and I wished there was something more creative in place. The vocal work was quite sultry and complements the mature vibes of the song really well. The rapping had an equally passionate vibe that was flirty at times. (8/10)

5. Survive The Night – Survive The Night starts off the end of the album, which features a much softer tone to how the album started. This song features satisfying mix of electric guitar, a trap beat and some bass. Survive The Night also features a neat display of vocals from all members of the group. Emotions were also prevalent. Not as strong as other displays of emotions in songs that I have observed before. But enough to say that it helped make Survive The Night captivating, quite soothing, and the best side track from the album. (9/10)

6. Timeless (Pre-Release Single) – Click here to read the full review for Timeless. (8/10)

Overall Album Rating – 7.9/10

BE AWARE Teaser Image

[Review] Timeless – THE BOYZ

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Another slight change to the review schedule for today. Sliding in a scheduled post instead of what I had planned for today. Back to normal for tomorrow!

Another album review I will be posting in the near future is for THE BOYZ’s BE AWARE, which dropped mid-August of this year. A week prior to the official release of both BE AWARE and the title track WHISPER, THE BOYZ did pre-release the track Timeless. As it also got a music video, I thought I write a quick review for Timeless.

Timeless is quite a different track to their title track for what became their 7th mini-album. The only common thread between the two songs is the fact that both songs are ideal for the summer season. The major difference, however, is the title track is much more synth-based and a performance piece, whilst Timeless is more approachable and calming to listen to. I use the terms ‘pleasant’ and ‘soothing’ quite often on my blog (and more so this year than any other year), but it is probably the most succinct way to describe the likes of Timeless. I think you can also describe as the song as rather simple, as well.. There really isn’t much to it. The instrumental is less reliant on the synths that have taken over THE BOYZ’s title tracks, instead opting for a mix of piano in the verses and a minimalistic approach with some light tropical synths for the choruses. There is also some intriguing synths at the start the song, which admittedly got me interested in Timeless. I also quite like the bass, which gave the song a bit more body and was a subtle way to build the song. Similarly, the guitar work we get in the bridge and in the final chorus of Timeless was also another subtle way to keep the ball rolling but also not exactly repeat everything that came before it. As for the vocals and raps, the members also kept it simple, with a simple melody. I did like the way members all sung together at the end, giving the ending nice sense of closure and peak, as well. Overall, Timeless was a neat pre-release and I appreciated its presence on the mini-album.

The music video was also quite simple and appeals to the idea that the song is geared towards the Summer season. In this video, the members go on a retreat to the beach, hanging out with one another and enjoying their time together as a group away from spotlights and the stage. I don’t have much to say about the video, mainly that it works well with the song. Also, it shows the members is a less harsher and edgy manner, and that their visuals appear to be more natural. This complements the idea of nature and scenic views that is touched on in the video.

Song – 8/10
Music Video – 8/10
Overall Rating – 8/10

[Review] WHISPER – THE BOYZ

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One of the comebacks that is starting this week of new releases is THE BOYZ’s WHISPER, their latest title track from their 7th mini-album BE AWARE. This is the group’s first Korean comeback since the release of SHE’S THE BOSS (yet to be reviewed) in Japan, the group’s first (and ongoing) world tour and their Korean MAVERICK comeback from November of last year. WHISPER does not feature member Eric, who has been on hiatus since March for health reasons. Hopefully he is on the road to recovery and will be back with the rest of the group for future promotions.

Without a doubt, WHISPER is designed to be a summer track. It has quite a colourful and equally upbeat instrumental, described as a retro 808 bass and futuristic synth sounds (taken from SOOMPI). You might think because WHISPER is a summer song, it follows up nicely from last year’s THRILL RIDE. However, I don’t think the two songs are on par with one another. For me, THRILL RIDE was exciting, vibrant and had great energy that made me not want to stop playing the song. The synths were robust and dynamic. However, when it comes to WHISPER, I find the newer song to be more generic and the instrumental doesn’t really bring that same level of excitement nor does it capture my attention. I do feel the vocals/rapping faired a bit better, even though it does sit on the subpar side of the spectrum. The word I have been using a lot in my review is ‘zing’ and WHISPER could have used a whole lot of this. The best aspect of WHISPER, in my point of view, are the hooks. While I am sure some people will definitely raise the hooks as elementary and generic as well, I kind of liked it. Particularly, the “Stay Stay, Play Play, Sway Sway“. But all the hooks in WHISPER did what hooks are meant to do, and it gave WHISPER a memorable factor. Whether the rest of the song catches on like the hooks, it might be too soon to speculate. My thoughts on the song could simply be due to the fact that I haven’t heard the song enough times for it to marinate in my mind or develop a connection. But as for now, WHISPER is pretty generic and standard for me.

I have no clue on what is happening in this video. And it is to the point where I can’t even join pieces of the video together to make it make sense. There seems to be a light and dark theme going on, with the dark side infiltrating the light side (see the section of the video that corresponds with the first pre-chorus). But then that theme is dropped, but reappears ever so slightly in the sections that correspond with the bridge. On the other hand, the video is bright, loaded with the colours blue and pink and super energetic looking (thanks to the presence of the members and the choreography shots). But to continue the confusion, there were guns and an alien abduction scene at one point in the second verse. And the ending was very cryptic yet mysterious. Yeah, I have no clue this time around and would greatly appreciate if anyone has any theories that might help me decipher the story or intent of this video.

The choreography for this comeback looks great. As already mentioned, it is quite energetic and suits THE BOYZ style very well. There is a bouncy aspect to it, which I quite liked. I also enjoyed the idea of the position of the backhand close to mouth to mimic a whispering action, which is simple and sensible as the performance’s main move.

Song – 7/10
Music Video – 6.5/10
Performance – 8/10
Overall Rating – 7.1/10